Tribute artist David King will be part of Elvis celebration at Capitol Theatre

For more than 30 of those years, the iconic character and his music have lived on locally through David King.

The Elvis tribute artist, who lives in Greencastle, Pa., will be a part of a two-day Elvis celebration highlighted by a Las Vegas-style show featuring King and The Spin-Outs at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at The Capitol Theatre in Chambersburg, Pa.

Also, on Saturday, June 8, at 2 p.m., there will be a workshop in the theater to learn “How to Produce an Elvis Production” taught by King and Garry Gontz of The Spin-Outs.

The two-day event will kick off on Friday, June 7, with an opportunity to meet Elvis’s actual “Kissin’ Cousins” movie co-star Cynthia Pepper on the mezzanine of the historic theater from 6 to 8 p.m.

Pepper will personally introduce the 1964 film, which will be shown on the big screen on Saturday, June 8, at 3 p.m. and will be followed by a Q&A.

Impersonating Elvis Presley has been a labor of love for King.

The 45-year-old recalls the days of show-and-tell in school when his classmates would bring their toys, and he would bring Elvis records.

“Growing up in my house, the three types of music were gospel, country — the old country — and Elvis,” King said. “When I was growing up, I fell in love with Elvis’ music. His voice draws so many people.”

When asked what his favorite era of Elvis was, King gave his own account of the rock ‘n’ roll legend’s musical progression.

“In the ‘50s, he had a rockabilly thing. In the ‘60s, he had a mellow voice. In the ‘70s, he matured and did a lot of songs with more meat on them,” King said.

As far as the musical content of Elvis that King chooses to reproduce, it depends on the show.

He says that he has a particular show called “Elvis Through the Years,” in which he performs songs from the ‘50s through the ‘70s.

King wears exact replicas of all the jumpsuits worn by Elvis.

“They are exact replicas and I get them from different people who make them from Canada to Las Vegas,” King said.

Beside wearing the garb, King says one important thing for any Elvis tribute artist is “feeling” the part.

“For that time period in 1954 when he (Elvis) began, a young boy swiveling his hips and shaking his legs ... people know when it’s real and when it’s not,” King said. “When he sang ‘Tutti Frutti,’ he felt it. When someone like Pat Boone covered it, you could tell it wasn’t real.”

For his performance at The Capitol Theatre, King plans a Las Vegas-style concert where he will perform 28 songs during a 90-minute show. He revealed that the show will open with “That’s All Right,” which is best known as the debut single released and recorded by Elvis Presley.

Performing at Chambersburg’s historic downtown theater brings back memories for King, who first performed as part of the Appalachian Jubilee at the venue when he was 13 years old.

“The Capitol means so much to me,” King said.

King credits The Spin-Outs and his loyal fan base for helping him continue great performances as an Elvis tribute artist.

“Gary (Gontz) and I have been together since 1989,” King said. “The bass player and the drummer have been with me since 1993. The Spin-Outs are one of the top Elvis groups in the country. They work very diligently to get it down like the original.”

“I talk to a lot of these Elvis tribute artists that are out there and they’re doing these huge venues, us old dogs, we have the club circuits. It’s good that these groups keep it going, it’s a major blessing. The Elvis fans have been great.”